MILWAUKEE, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – In an intense match for the Chancellor’s Cup, an offensive touch by Green Bay’s Sam Krenzien (Wauwatosa, Wis.) in the 106th minute propelled the Phoenix men’s soccer team to a 2-1 triumph over undefeated and nationally-ranked Milwaukee on Tuesday evening at Engelmann Stadium.

The win was head coach Dan Popik’s first Horizon League victory of his career and helped improved his squad to 6-2-3 overall and 1-0-1 in the league. It also returned the Chancellor’s Cup to Green Bay for the first time since 2010. No. 24 Milwaukee dropped to 9-1-1 overall and 2-1-0 in the conference.

Krenzien’s game winning touch came in the 106th minute when he collected a loose ball near the right corner of the goal box and directed it toward the net. As it headed on goal, the ball took a deflection off a Panther defender and bounced into the back of the net. Scored as an own goal with the defensive deflection it made no difference as it sealed the win for the Phoenix.

It was a battle from the opening kickoff as the Green Bay offense held possession in the early going. However, it was a defensive play in the 15th minute that helped set the tone for the rest of the match. A handball by the Phoenix defense gave Milwaukee a PK with 14:57 showing on the clock. Laurie Bell stepped up to take the kick, but Kyle Ihn (Wales, Wis.) came up with the big save, diving to his left to gobble up the low kick.

A turnover by the Phoenix defense allowed Aaron Horvat an open shot at net, but Ihn again stepped up and made the save in the 42nd minute as the match went into halftime scoreless. At the break Milwaukee owned a 10-4 advantage in shots, while Green Bay led corners, 4-2.

The Phoenix was able to hold the Panthers scoreless until the 71st minute. With traffic in the box, Rami Younes found Laurie Bell with a short shot in front of the net to give Milwaukee a 1-0 advantage.

Coming out of the Milwaukee goal Green Bay took back the momentum, as Lawrence Talery (Coon Rapids, Minn.) put a shot on goal that bounced off the crossbar just over a minute later. Two minutes passed before the Phoenix was able to capitalize on an opportunity that the Panthers were unable to connect on in the first half. After a Panthers player was called for a handball in the box, Sabastian Xiong calmly stepped to the line and connected on his second PK of the season to bring the score even, 1-1.

Both teams saw opportunities to put the match away in the closing minutes, but extra time was needed for the fourth-consecutive matchup between the two squads.

For the match Milwaukee led in shots, 27-14, and corners, 8-5. Ihn played the entire match, finishing with 13 saves.

Green Bay returns to action on Saturday, traveling to Cleveland State for a Horizon League matchup at noon.

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